Packing crate



July l22, 1930. G. A. SMALL ET Al. 1,771,016

PACKING CRATE Filed Nov. 25', 1927 III/ll attorney Patented. July 22?.,v1930 y "UNI'TIEDOSTTIES PATENT OFFICE i GORDON A. SMALL AND JOSEPH'J.HENZE, 01'37DZIWIROI'L,` MICHIGAN, ASSIGNORS T0 A. BACKUS JR. AND SONS,OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, A CORPORATION OF MICHIGANV PACKING. CRATEApp1ication filed November 25, 12927. Serial No. 235,489. y

The present invention pertains to a novel packing crate, which isdesigned especially for shipping telephone sets.

The principal object of the invention is to 5 provide a device of thischaracter which may be readily modified to accommodate either the manualor the. dial sets. The crate includes a'receptacle having blocks on onewall for engaging the base of the set and having 10 on the opposite walla rack for engagingthe head which carries theV mouth piece. In themanual set, the stem which carries the head is mounted centrally ofthe'base, and in the dial set somewhat offset from the base, so

15 that there is a different relation between the head and the base inthe two sets. The base being fixed by the blocks already mentioned,

it becomes necessary to provide an adjustable device for. engaging andretaining the head if 20 'the device is to be adapted for both kinds ofsets. The device of the invention -is constructed in accordance withthese considerations.

The invention is fully disclosed by way of- T15 Reference to these viewswill now be made by use of like characters which are employed Y todesignate corresponding parts throughout.

The device includes a box-like receptacle 1 4U having its upper wall inthe form of a removable cover 2. The base 3 of the receptacle hassecured theretoV a number of retaining blocks 4, so spaced as to receivethe base 5 of a telephone set and hold the same against 4i sliding.

VThe cover 2 is providedwith a means for I engaging and retaining thehead 6 of the set. In the manual set shown in Figure 3, the stem 7 whichcarries the head extends upwardly "from the center of the base, but inthe dial or. automatic set shown in Figure Il, the stem 7 is somewhatoffset'from thebase 8 in'order to accommodate the dial 9. Hence inbothcases there is a different relation between the base and the head, andin order to render our invention adaptable to both forms of sets, wemount the head retaining means adjustable relative to the base 3`of thereceptacle. i

ThisV means consists of racks composed of Aslats 1G across which aresecured spaced parallel end bars 11 and intermediate barsV 12. Theconfronting edges of the bars are formed with opposednotches 13,whereupon the intermediate bars 12 `acquire notches at both longitudinaledges as clearly shown in Figure l. With references to the cover 2, thebars are disposed beneath the slats, and to thelower surface of thecover are secured spacing boards 14 which are engaged bythe uppersurfaces of the slats. Rails 15 are also secured to the lower surface ofthe cover in a manner to be slidably engaged by the ends of t-heslats-l0 and to guide the racks in slidingv movement transversely of thecover. Each rack is held to the cover by a pin 16 passing through theboard 14 and through a slot 17 in one of the intermediate bars 12. Thepin is provided at its lower end with a wing nut 18 screwed thereon-andthus supporting the rack. i

The notchesl areso formed and arranged that an opposed pair is adaptedto receive the head 6 of a telephone set. In order to convertk th-edevice from a manual set receptacle to a dial set receptacle, or viceversa, it yis necessary to shift the racks a slight distance in order tocompensate for the different relations between the head and the base inthe two sets. This shifting or adjustment is permitted by the slots 17in the intermediate bar l2 for accommodating the pin 16, and theadjustment is secured by the nut 18.

When two or more racks are provided, as in Figure l, a given crate maybe used for shipping both kinds of sets. The number of sets accommodatedby each rack is governed by the number of intermediate bars 12 comprisedin the rack. Figure l for example shows two racks of different sizes, sothat the crate may carry more of one type than of the other, but it willalso be apparent that the crate may be adjusted to carry sets of onlyone type if desired.

Although a specific embodiment of the invention has been illustrated anddescribed, it will be understood that various alterations in the detailsof construction may be made without departing from the scope of theinvention as indicated by the appended claims.

What we claim is l. A packing crate of the character describedcomprising a receptacle, retaining blocks secured to one of the innerwalls thereof, a rack secured to the opposite inner wall. said rackcomprising spaced bars having notches in the confronting edges thereof,slats secured transversely of said bars for maintaining a fixed relationtherebetween, and rails secured to said wall and engaging the ends ofsaid transverse slats.

2. A packing crate of the character described comprising a receptacle,retaining blocks secured to one of the inner walls thereof, a racksecured to the opposite inner wall, said rack comprising spaced barshaving notches in the confronting edges thereof, rails secured to saidwall and engaging said rack and said rack being slidably supported withreference to said last named wall between said rails.

3. A packing crate of the character described comprising a receptacle,retaining blocks secured to one of the inner walls thereof, a racksecured to the opposite inner wall, said rack comprising spaced barshaving notches in the confronting edges thereof, slats securedtransversely of said bars for maintaining a fixed relation therebetween,and rails secured to said inner wall whereby to engage said transverseslats, said rack being slidably supported between said rails withreference to said last named wall.

4. A packing crate of the character described comprising a receptacle,retaining blocks secured to one of the inner Walls thereof, a racksecured to the opposite inner wall, said rack comprising spaced barshaving notches in the confronting edges thereof, and slats securedtransversely of said bars for maintaining a fixed relation therebetween,said rack being slidably supported with reference to said last namedwall, and rails secured to said last named wall and engaging the ends ofsaid slats.

tures.

GORDON A. SMALL. JOSEPH J. HENZE.

